Afghanistan suicide car bomber strikes close to US embassy

A suicide car bomber in Afghanistan killed at least six Italian troops and 10
civilians when he targeted a Nato military convoy on a road close to the
enclave of Kabul that houses the US and British embassies.

The area is a short distance from the diplomatic enclave housing many Western missions, including the US and British embassiesPhoto: REUTERS

10:27AM BST 17 Sep 2009

Afghan troops could be seen carrying wounded civilians to ambulances near the wreckage of an Italian military vehicle bearing the insignia of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).

Further details of casualties were not immediately available. An Isaf spokesman said they had no information about the incident yet.

Several other vehicles had been destroyed. Police officers at the scene said the blast was caused by a suicide car bomber.

The area is a short distance from the diplomatic enclave housing many Western missions, including the US and British embassies, and the road is frequently used by foreign troops.

The blast took place shortly after President Hamid Karzai held a news conference at the presidential palace, also in the city centre.